NATO resists U.S. push on Russia

NATO pulled its punches against Russia on Tuesday, suspending formal contacts as punishment for the Georgia invasion but bucking U.S. pressure for more severe penalties.

NYT: Obama's ads in key states go on attack
Senator Barack Obama has started a sustained and hard-hitting advertising campaign against Senator John McCain in states that will be vital this fall.

'Boomerang' storm Fay may worsen

Tropical Storm Fay continued its erratic path, moving north along the Florida coast but not going out over the Atlantic Ocean, where many had feared it could strengthen and turn into a hurricane.

Citizens' U.S. border crossings tracked

Federal government has been using its system of checkpoints to collect information on U.S. citizens crossing by land; data will be stored for 15 years.

Blasts reportedly kill 11 in Algeria
Twin car bombings at a hotel and military headquarters killed 11 people and wounded 31 others on Wednesday, according to local reports.

Small SUVs improve in crash tests

Four small sport utility vehicles received top scores in crash tests to be released Wednesday by the insurance industry, a sign of improvement compared with SUVs built earlier in the decade.

Food aid arrives for hungry Georgians

A convoy of food aid for beleaguered Georgians rumbled through a Russian checkpoint Wednesday, despite few signs by soldiers of fulfilling Moscow's promise of a pullback within two days.

Rogue monkey eludes Tokyo police

A rogue monkey holed up at a Tokyo train station for more than two hours on Wednesday before giving dozens of net-wielding police officers the slip among crowds of excited children and passersby.

Former Chinese leader dies at 87

Hua Guofeng, who briefly ruled China as Mao Zedong's handpicked successor before being toppled by reformists, died Wednesday. He was 87.